Shonka Dukureh was on the verge of a studio album launch. Here is what else to know in regards to the 'Elvis' actress who died July 21.
Shonka Dukureh, 44, who performed Large Mama Thornton in Baz Luhrmann‘s extremely acclaimed biopic Elvis, has died. The actress and singer reportedly handed away Thursday, July 21, in Nashville, Tennesse. The Metro Nashville Police Division tweeted out particulars the identical day.
“No foul play is obvious in right now’s demise of actress Shonka Dukureh, 44, who portrayed Large Mama Thornton on this 12 months’s Elvis film,” they tweeted. “Dukureh, a Fisk Univ graduate, was discovered lifeless within the bed room of her Kothe Means apt that she shared together with her 2 younger kids.” A explanation for demise remains to be pending. Right here’s what to know in regards to the gifted actress who tragically misplaced her life right now.
She’s a mom of two.
Per The Tennesean, Shonka was discovered unresponsive on the ground by one in every of her two younger kids, who went to a neighbor to get assist. Little or no is understood about her children, however she did take to Instagram on March 16 to share that she has a son who loves music. “We gone name dis one A Spring Break Unique ~ my infants favourite trip,” she captioned the video, which confirmed Shonka with a masked younger boy, who was jamming on a turntable.
“My first born totally enjoys frequenting guitar heart to discover all of the taking place devices and equipment. He occurred upon a really cool turntable arrange and let me vibe witem a sec. Grateful to Be His Mother.”
She solely has one main movie function.
Shonka’s excessive profile function as R&B singer and songwriter Willie Mae “Large Mama” Thornton would show to be her first and solely main performing function. Apart from working with director Baz, she additionally appeared in her breakout function alongside Austin Butler, Tom Hanks, and Olivia DeJonge, amongst others.
“I used to be very conscious and wanting to actually be intentional about ensuring I used to be paying respect, respecting her, respecting her legacy, respecting her spirit, respecting all the pieces about what she dropped at music and understanding that I’m in a position to do it as a result of she’s performed it and laid that basis,” she stated of taking part in Large Mama Thornton, per The Tennessean.
She’s additionally a gospel singer.
The multitalented girl is also called a gospel singer. Nashville Mayor John Cooper lamented the lack of her immense skills in a tweet on Thursday. “Her highly effective voice and artistry will dwell on by means of her music, and we honor her reminiscence on this unhappy day,” he wrote.
Shonka reportedly had an album within the works, in line with her official web site. She was impressed by her function in Elvis, the location stated, and the album “is a tribute to the blues music style in celebration of these fierce unsung pioneering artists and musicians who paved the way in which for the rock’n roll music revolution.”
Her voice is featured on the film’s soundtrack.
Performing the legendary track “Hound Canine,” Shonka’s highly effective voice may be heard on the Elvis movie soundtrack. Large Mama Thornton recorded the Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller hit again in 1952 — years earlier than Elvis would additional popularize it in 1956.
She has a graduate diploma.
The Tennessean stories that Shonka was extremely educated, in addition to extremely completed. The actress reportedly acquired a bachelor’s diploma from Nashville’s Fisk College in theater. She moreover earned a grasp’s diploma in schooling from Trevecca Nazarene College.